Serenbe is located in Palmetto, Georgia, about 30-45 minutes southwest of Atlanta.  The 900 acre community will preserve 70% of it's land and eventual plans include about 600 homes.  All Serenbe homes will be EarthCraft certified and the community offers a variety of options including work/live townhomes, cottages, and estates.  The architecture is diverse and charming and is often inspired by historical buildings.  There's a Dwell Home being built (see below), and the above home by Redbone Construction was featured in various green building articles in local Atlanta publications. 

As you can tell, Serenbe made the cover of Cottage Living Magazine as a Top 10 Cottage Neighborhood.

Prices supposedly start around $300,000, but if you peruse the real estate for sale on their site, you won't see much below the $500,000 mark.  I think this is one of the drawbacks of the community -- I would like to see more opportunity for economic diversity. 

Another consideration is the lack of public transportation.  Unless you are retired or using the live/work residences, Atlanta is most likely where you would end up working and driving that distance everyday is not very "green".  Of course, the community could develop a carpool program as well as promote biofuels and electric cars -- something to make up for this less green feature. 

Other than that, there are stores, restaurants, a farm and an inn all within walking distance, made easier by planned footpaths.  Future plans even include a juice bar, holistic medical services, and assisted living. Serenbe is big on community activities and events and really aims to bring people back to a simpler time when there was a much stronger sense of community living.  Serenbe is a truly idyllic-looking community and the type of life it promises would make most people jump to buy a home there, if you can afford it.

Earlier this month, the USGBC awarded LEED Silver certification to the Resonance House, a project designed and built by the collaboration of Design Lab Inc. and University of Kentucky College of Design.  Of note, the Resonance House is the first and only home to be certified by the USGBC at the time of certification.  It's a 4,400 sf home with contemporary finishes and energy efficient elements.  Located at 151 Old Georgetown Street in Lexington, the five-star plus Energy Star home has a small operating cost of 2.8 cents per sf, or ~$125 per month.

One of the main features of the home is the "Light Vortex" pictured below.  Designed by A. Zahner Company, the Light Vortex is a two-story, zinc-clad figure that covers the fireplace and mechanical core.  The Light Vortex provides a diversion from the home's contemporary lines and gives the homeowners easy access to mechanical systems. 

The Resonance House has sunscreens and shadow-screens that block out heat during the summer and let it in during the winter.  These passive design elements help keep the home efficiently operating throughout the year.  In addition, the four bedroom home has a slew of other green elements, such as: low-e argon windows, high efficiency lighting fixtures, LED and compact fluorescent bulbs, high density recycled wool cellulose insulation, programmable thermostats, high efficiency electric furnaces and air conditioners, mechanical ventilation, low VOC paint, recycled fiber carpet, hardwood flooring, and use of FSC-certified woods, etc.

The Resonance Home was digitally designed to prioritize easy manufacturing and reduce construction waste.  Materials were laser cut and CNC milled, with scraps finding their way back in the home's construction.  By doing so, the project generated less than three tons of construction waste (as compared to ~15-18 tons for normal projects). 

According to Metropolis Magazine, the home sold in August 2007 to undisclosed purchasers for whatever the undisclosed asking price was. 

Photo credits: Chris Fieldhouse Photography.

The venerable HuffPo just posted a list of what they call the "Best Green Twitter Feeds."  It's an okay list, but when you name streams like @Sprig (13 total updates and nothing in 7 days), @globalwarming (sporadic tweets with nothing in 7 days), and @greennews (sporadic tweets and nothing in 12 days), it's tough to take the list seriously.  No offense Sprig, GlobalWarming, and GreenNews.  HuffPo's list includes some stalwarts, don't get me wrong, but when you assume the title of "Best," you have to bring it.  You have to name more than sixteen or seventeen Twitter feeds.  Right?

Anyway, here's my list (not a "best" list, just a list) of environmental and green related twitter folks that you might be interested in following.  To clear the air, we're @jetsongreen.  Some of the following are no different than straight blog feeds.  Some are mixed blog feeds with conversation.  Others are pure conversation. 

• @planetrelations
• @greenwombat
• @marielacampo
• @chadludeman
• @jcolman
• @thegoodhuman
• @nuprana
• @seandaily
• @zerochamp
• @pete_thinkspace
• @renovati
• @greenlagirl
• @elaineishere
• @JollyGreenGirl
• @StephenDP
• @lamarguerite
• @gfriend
• @michaeldestries
• @greentweet
• @alxram
• @joshshill
• @celsiastweets
• @greendigitmedia
• @MILLERM
• @greenmodernkits
• @greenyourdecor
• @GreenOptions
• @GreenProject
• @teensygreen
• @chelseagreen
• @cornellbox
• @GMnextGuy
• @greenwash
• @cat_laine
• @aidg
• @cyberrain
• @Ecochickie
• @ChrisBaskind
• @sheagunther
• @SolveClimate
• @GoGreenTube
• @Ecorazzi
• @Ecogeek
• @Grist
• @100kHouse
• @jochapa
• @VictoriaE
• @andrewstone
• @NathanShock
• @CAGW
• @Ecopolitologist
• @jejacquot
• @Inhabitat
• @JillFehr
• @GreenSmith
• @MariaEnergia
• @AlexSteffen
• @dwestcott1
• @sustainablog
• @worstedwitch
• @weearth
• @HowYouEco
• @ivanoats
• @davidryal
• @MaxGladwell
• @BigGreenSwitch
• @GreenJobs
• @Sierra_Magazine
• @NRDCSwitchboard
• @GreenPeaceUSA
• @NWF
• @GreenGirls
• @Eco2020
• @Earth911
• @GreenNetizen
• @BuildingGreenTV
• @NETWORK_GREEN
• @LIMEdotcom

Who did I miss?  This list is by no means complete, but feel free to right click and cherry pick to your heart's content.  Hopefully you'll find some interesting green folks and make something good happen. 

*If you have no idea what Twitter is, it's a free micro-blogging and quasi-social networking site where people can say anything and everything in under 140 characters.  You can follow a twitter stream, send direct messages, favorite various tweets, and even block people.  It's not a perfect system by any means -- I haven't been able to read replies in about a week, but it's pretty fun.

I've been intrigued by ZEDfactory ever since I first started seeing their homes and designs.  The three letters "ZED", which stand for Zero Energy Development, seem to show up in all ZEDfactory designs.  But I must admit: their designs have a certain whimsical, if not playful, look.  That's no big deal, though, because future solutions are going to look different.  Certainly, ZEDfactory is serious when it comes to pushing the envelope towards sustainable housing options.  The above and below RuralZED was on display earlier this year at EcoBuild in Earls Court, London.  To be clear, RuralZED is more than a house, it's a system for developing zero carbon, zero energy, healthy homes. 

RuralZED homes are built to certain levels under the Code for Sustainable Homes, with a self-build Code 3 unit (sans labor) starting at approximately £89,000 (by my current calculation, that's $166,000 USD). 

The voluntary Code for Sustainable Homes ratchets up requirements for homes with Code 6 mandated in 2016, so the RuralZED was designed to be compatible to future retrofits.  Code 3 homes are built to take on extra sustainable features to achieve Code 6 compliance (see model above).  As a result, the investment of a homeowner is protected from becoming obsolete while homeowners can match environmental aspirations with budget and life demands. 

As you can tell, orientation, green power, and energy/water efficiency are three of the main aspects of the RuralZED.  Homes are built to be super-efficient and to utilize roof space and solar power.  The idea is that every home will have some source of green power, whether solar or small wind, and if not, it will probably have a green roof.  All of this is in addition to the efficient design. 

The interior is also quite nice. With modern touches and extensive use of natural materials, a flexible RuralZED could be quite posh.  Additionally, these homes are made to be compatible with more dense uses.  You could have entire neighborhoods of similar, but unique RuralZEDs.  This idea, I think, is pretty interesting, so who knows, maybe we can takes some of these ideas and apply them here in the U.S.

All photos and renderings credit to RuralZED.

The NAHB rolled out its Certified Green Professional ("CGP") program earlier this year and already 1,000 builders, remodelers, and other members of the home building industry have earned the CGP educational designation.  Potential CGPs must complete 24 hours of classroom training, of which, 16 hours must be qualified green building instruction.  In addition, potential CGPs must have two years industry experience, sign a code of ethics, and commit to fulfilling continuing education requirements.

[+] Find a local CGP
[+] Become a CGP

The educational designation is a major aspect of the NAHB's National Green Building Program. 

Speaking of the program, NAHB President Sandy Dunn said, "Home owners and home buyers are demanding more green products and features in their homes, and the building industry wants to meet that demand. That’s how this market works ... the CGP designation is a sign of professional commitment.  These 1,000 are ready, and I can guarantee there are hundreds more just waiting to join their ranks."

Other green building educational certifications include LEED Professional Accreditation ("LEED AP") and Cascadia GBC's Living Building Leader Program, which requires LEED AP as a basis for its certification.

Via Environmental Leader + NAHB.

Keep your eyes out for the newest tool designed to rate cities in their efforts to push environmental stewardship.  The STAR Community Index is like LEED, but it's designed to rate local governments.  With myriad green city rankings and websites trying to calculate the sustainability of local governments,* it's high time for a highly respected, standardized formula for measuring a community's sustainability.  According to ICLEI, the STAR Program will create a process, not unlike LEED, to bring in leaders in the field toward the goal of establishing shared measures and processes for greening communities.  STAR will have tiered levels, with the aim to accomplish the following:

• Offer a globally recognized green standard system for local governments
• Drive integrity and rigor in local governmental actions meant to reduce climate impacts
• Increase accountability in data and actions
• Facilitate prioritized and informed decision making
• Create a roadmap for communities to track and achieve environmental goals
• Enable peer-to-peer learning among communities
• Engage the public in supporting and advancing their city as a STAR community

STAR is being developed by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability in partnership with the USGBC and the Center for American Progress. 

*Up until this point, various websites and media publishers have tried to rank cities based on various sustainability and environmental factors.  Some rankings include Popular Science's 50 Greenest Cities, CountryHome's Best Green Places, SustainLane's US City Rankings, Move's Top 10 Greenest Cities, and MSN CityGuide's 10 Greenest Cities in America. 

Image via Infinite Wilderness, tip via elaine.

I just noticed this RoofRay mashup that uses Google Maps and various other information to help you calculate the solar potential of your building.  It's pretty interesting, actually.  You can find your building, trace the potential solar roof area, adjust the calculations based on your estimate of orientation and angle, and then see what you have.  After that, you start entering in your electricity usage information and the company you purchase electricity from (watch out though because they didn't have Rocky Mountain Power's information and may not have your information yet).  After that, you cruise along where they start to provide you with an estimate of the system's cost, rebates, and potential savings, etc. 

All in all, it's a pretty handy mashup.  It'll help you get an estimate, but don't shirk your research.  You'll need to do further exploration and verify the numbers.  It's a great starting point, though. 

Via BoingBoing.

River North Properties LLC is planning to develop a LEED Certified, condo/retail project for Denver's River North ("RiNo") neighborhood.  Named Beleza, a Brazilian Portuguese word for "beauty", this luxurious green community is modeled after the Brazilian city of Curitiba.  Like Curitiba, Beleza will focus on sustainable lifestyle, eco-friendly development, and planning that cuts pollution and waste while improving the quality of life for residents.  It will also have smart amenities, such as biometric fingerprint access, climate-controlled window blinds, power outlets in parking spaces, and digital screen controlled integrated lighting, communications, and A/V systems. 

The 14-story building will have residences of various sizes and prices in the range of $405k - $4.2 million.

Beleza will be located at 31st street and Brighton Boulevard near the South Platte River, a site near a proposed light rail station.  With direct access to RiNo life, bike trails, walking paths, and the river, Beleza has the potential to be a car-free community. 

We'll keep you posted as more details are released and the project moves along. 

• Solar power hits home.
• Factory-homes might be greener.
• Giant retailers look to sun for energy savings.
• NREL solar cells set efficiency record of 40.8%.
• The American dream is changing.
• Furniture makers want LEED consideration for movable walls.
• Green roofs differ in building cooling, water handling capabilities.
• Orange County cities consider ban on fake grass.
• Green church has 71 energy-saving items.

*WIR = Week in Review; a Saturday showcase of excellent links.

Just one mile from downtown Seattle in Madison Valley, Cascade Built has finished their latest green home, the Alley House.  This high-performance home is seeking LEED Platinum certification and, for those that are interested, is on sale for ~$770,000.  The home is on an advantageous urban infill lot and features some high-end finishes such as Caesarstone countertops, Kirei doors, and a Liebherr refrigerator.  In addition to a private bamboo garden, this home has some of the following green features:

• Solar hot water
• Hot water heat recovery
• Radiant heat
• PV solar ready
• A green roof
• Rainscreen siding
• Structural insulated panel (SIP) construction
• Insulated concrete forms (ICF) with high R-value
• Formaldehyde-free and 100% recycled flooring
• Zero VOC finishes

Located at 222 26th Avenue, the Alley House will be open for public touring on Saturday, August 23.  Register here if you're interested in checking it out.

The Silicon Valley-based law firm of Cooley Godward Kronish has just brought online the largest on-site solar system of any Bay Area law firm.  The 465 panel, 87 kW system was installed on the roof of their Palo Alto-Hanover building of 130,000 sf.  Installing a solar system of this size has almost lost its newsworthiness, especially with tons of companies placing monster solar arrays in service by the end of this year to take advantage of the tax benefits.  But what's really interesting, I think, is one of the reasons the firm decided to generate some on-site green power: their clients are in this business and inspired them to go green. 

Eric Jensen, Palo Alto partner and business department chair, said, "With eight offices nationwide and 1,500 attorneys and staff, we are focused on cost-effective ways to reduce our energy consumption and environmental impact ... in addition, we count as clients in our clean technology practice some of the leading entrepreneurs and investors in the world, who have further inspired all of us at Cooley to do our part."

So law firms aren't limiting their activities to recycling programs, two-sided printing, CFL swapouts, hybrid car purchasing incentives, and the like.  They're taking a page from their clients and going greener with their buildings.  That is, in addition to facilitating green transactions and innovation all over the country. 

What comes next is the domino effect.  Any law firm with a clean tech, climate change, sustainable development, or venture fund practice group will need to install solar and make their buildings greener.  It's already happening on both the East and West Coast, but watch for this activity to increase. 

[+] Silicon Valley Law Firm Installs Large PV System [REC Solar]

Elizabeth Turnbull was planning for Yale grad school and started estimating her future living expenses.  As an incoming Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies student, Elizabeth calculated that she would spend ~$14,000 over two years of school and wanted to do something effective with that money.  So she channeled a little inspiration from Tumbleweed Tiny House Co. and decided to build her own tiny home as economically as possible.  So far, she's made incredible progress building the 8' x 18' modish home on a flatbed trailer.  By the time she's done, the off-grid home will price out just over $11,000 or so.  And it's surprisingly spacious inside, too. 

Elizabeth's Tiny House will have a sleeping loft, storage loft, study nook, kitchen area, living area, and a bathroom.  When complete, she'll tow the entire home to New Haven for the start of the academic year. 

You'll notice the simple passive design.  During the winter, the side with all the windows will gather sunlight.  During the summer, she'll turn the trailer around and leave the slanted roof facing the sun.  Three solar panels will power her computer, lights, and other electronics in the home.  The tiny house has a small shower, composting toilet, and propane to heat the home when necessary. 

[+] Yale Student to Bring Tiny House to Campus

Photo credits: Stephen Dunn.

Prairie Crossing is located in Grayslake, Illinois about 40 miles north of Chicago.  This beautiful, nature-focused community has preserved more than 60% of its 677 acres.  An impressive measure which clearly points to the good intentions of the "developers", a group of neighbors who bought the land in the 1980's with the goal of truly responsible development.  The community has 359 homes and 36 condos versus the 2400 homes that another developer had plans for.  The condos have received the highest energy star rating possible.

Prairie Crossing has a lake which is beautiful for swimming thanks to their storm water filtering system.  There are 165 acres of restored prairies, hence the name, and 20 acres of restored wetlands.  The community also houses a decade-old organic farm which provides healthy produce and fresh eggs. 

Prairie Crossing is even linked by trails to another 3,200 legally protected acres.  Just a few minutes walk from the community lies a commuter train station with access to Chicago and O'Hare International Airport.  One of the unique pieces of the community is a charter school, where learning is focused on the natural environment and global citizenship. 

Homes start at about $330,000.  Condos are available, but all the homes have been sold and you'll have to wait for one to come back on the market.  But with all the wonderful things this community has to offer, it doesn't seem like that will be happening very often!

This 5 story, 9 unit condo building is 2800 Lincoln and is planned for the corner of Diversey Parkway and Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.  Designed by Product Architects, this contemporary green building is aiming for LEED Silver, and might even catch LEED Gold.  2800 Lincoln has a green roof, large terraces, solar panels, solar thermal hot water heating, and will be powered, in part, by geothermal energy (see diagram below).  Yo Chicago reports that the developer, Helios Realty and Development, plans to break ground in the next month or two and has a lease for the ground-floor retail space in the works. 

2800 Lincoln is expected to achieve 50% energy savings as compared to a comparable building that meets the minimum standards of 2004 IEC.  It'll also have excellent indoor environmental quality with abundant natural lighting and views, operable windows, and non-toxic and low-VOC coatings, adhesives, and fibers. 

Two bedroom, two bath units start at about $490,000, with three bedroom, three bath units at around $780,000.  Three are already tied up, so you'll have to hurry if you want to catch one of the remaining six. 

Renderings via 2800 Lincoln by dPict.

I find the stories behind green homes to be quite interesting.  I was at the gym and happened upon this article in Home Magazine about Adam Coulter, a 27 year-old screenwriter and actor living in LA.  He successfully battled cancer in his teens and has been in remission since that time.  But since his bout with cancer, he's always attempted to live in the healthiest environment possible.  This third-floor condo is an example of Couter's quest for healthy living -- it's been renovated with bamboo flooring, organic linen draperies, recycled glass tiles, zero-VOC paints, and locally produced, sustainable materials, etc.  Plus, it's super fresh and modern, a design aesthetic that certainly keeps the inner chi healthily chugging along.  You'll probably get stuck looking at the floating stairs, but don't forget check out the orange desk and mosaic bathroom tiles, too. 

[+] Best Green Remodel [HOME]

Photo credits: Grey Crawford. 

I like to think that the smartest, most entrepreneurial people are reading this blog and making a difference in their own sphere of the world.  Actually, I know you are because I get your emails and comments and am always encouraged by the information sharing.  So I'm thinking we should kick it up an notch and someone out there, some Jetson Green reader, needs to win this Urban Re:Vision Re:Construct Competition.  The general goal of the competition is to uncover and reward innovation in sustainable materials and building practices.  Anything seems to be on the table, from planning codes to toilets, dry walls to moveable walls, etc.  You may create some new way to create a structure, a new technique, or a something else. 

Submissions are due September 15, 2008 and winners will be announced at West Coast Green.  Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Sustainable building materials are the foundation of a sustainable city block.
• Re:constructing the construction process itself.
• Systems need to work together wherever possible.
• How can we change and improve the current processes and technologies?
• Construction needs to be multipurpose, efficient, livable, non-toxic, non-destructive, affordable, adaptable, and logical.
• Consider a Zero-Net Energy Built Environment.
• Think about dashboard technologies, biodegradable or 100% recyclable products, modular construction, green roofs, localized heat and power generation, LEED requirements and limitations, zero-waste, gray water and water capture, non-construction re-construction, daylighting, air quality, climate change requirements, solar, and cradle to cradle design.

One more thing.  There is a small $25.00 entry fee, but if you're a reader and you win either a cash prize or an honorable mention, send me an email and Jetson Green will gladly reimburse your entry fee for you.  Visit the Re:Construct Competition Page.

Time Equities, Inc. just broke ground on 50 West Street, Manhattan's newest green condo and hotel skyscraper.  Designed by influential architect Helmut Jahn, the $600 million, 580,000 sf mixed-use eco-tower is shooting for LEED Gold certification upon completion in 2011.  As a result, the 65-story tower will incorporate a host of green features and measures, including a green roof, water-efficient fixtures, automated blinds and energy control systems, recycling of demolition materials, use of sustainable and rapidly renewable materials, and an energy-efficient glass facade to filter in daylight and filter out UV rays. 

50 West Street will have 240 residential units, 150 hotel rooms, and some retail space.  The architect of record is Gruzen Samton.

The following is taken from an email from the USGBC relating to taking comments in relation to certified wood.  Friday August 8, 2008, the USGBC opened the first 30-day Public Comment Period for proposed revisions in how the LEED Green Building Rating System awards points for the use of certified wood.  Comments are being sought on: (1) the proposed revisions to the credit’s intent and requirements and (2) the criteria proposed in the USGBC Forest Certification System Benchmark.

The Public Comment Period will be open Friday, August 8 through Sunday, September 7, 5:00 PDT. 

USGBC will respond to all comments and post the comments and responses (without commenter names or organizations) to the USGBC Web site.  If changes are made as a result of comments, a 15-day second public comment period will be conducted on those changes.  USGBC membership primary contacts will vote on the final draft.  Visit the Certified Wood and Rating Systems Drafts pages for more information and to participate.

The focus of the proposed LEED credit language revisions is on transparency, setting forth a clear set of metrics that any forest certification system must meet in order to be recognized within LEED.  Currently, only wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council are eligible for LEED points.

Under the newly proposed credit language, wood certification systems would be evaluated for eligibility to earn points towards LEED certification against a measurable benchmark that includes:

• Governance
• Technical/Standards Substance
• Accreditation and Auditing
• Chain of Custody and Labeling

Documents posted for public review and comment clearly set forth the proposed benchmark with great detail in order to facilitate a robust dialog.

If approved by USGBC membership, wood certified under programs deemed compliant after thorough, objective analysis would be recognized by LEED and could earn project points towards LEED certification.  If a program is deemed non-compliant, the certification program administrators would have a clear understanding of what modifications are necessary to receive recognition under LEED.  The process by which this evaluation will occur is being developed and will be enacted only if USGBC members approve the proposed credit revisions.

Although this proposal is independent of the work we’re undertaking in our LEED v3 initiative, it is related in its intent to help take LEED to the next level.  Your comments are important to our efforts to continue LEED’s evolution and we encourage your participation.  Comment Today!

Flickr photo via Christopher.Johnson.

In the Spring 2008, the NY Times commissioned a study to learn how the real estate market and economy may be affecting people's attitudes towards buying a home.  Their study skewed young, affluent, and New York/Metro area (with roughly 250 NY participants).  It was also conducted in two-stages with the online study portion first and a follow-up interview second.  They concluded the study with Five Core Insights, with the following two points relating to environmental concerns:

• 93% of all home buyers, both nationally and in the NY Metro area, ARE NOT willing to PAY MORE for green or energy efficient features when building a home. 
• Consumers said that green features that save them money, such as energy efficient appliances, are important, while green features that are capital-intensive are less important. 

So what's to explain with these insights?  It could be that young buyers think they don't need to pay more for green features, but I doubt it.  I think what we're seeing here is that in a tougher real estate market, the pocket book comes first, and the environment comes second. 

What does that mean?  For one, we probably need to do a better job making green features more economical.  For two, maybe we need a Green MTV Cribs (you'll have to read the entire study to get that).

[+] Five Core Insights [PDF - NY Times]

Via EL.

Just recently, I noticed news that One Waterfront Place in the River District of Portland has received Platinum precertification under the LEED-CS program.  One Waterfront Place is said to be the first Platinum precertified project on the West Coast and the first precertified project of any level in Oregon.  And, as you can tell with the above rendering, the $100 million, 270,000 sf commercial office building has a posh location right near the river.  The Class A+ building will have a host of green amenities:

Some of those amenities include: ample natural light, secure bike parking with shower / fitness facility, eco-roofs, a storm water garden, on-site electrical generation, use of quality recycled materials, and low-VOC paints and coatings. 

There's a lot going on with green buildings across the U.S., but OWP is at the head of the pack with 53 points earned at precertification.  But we still have some time left before the building is complete in early 2010.  This whole area of Portland is doing green things, so we'll keep coming back to the topic.